I had expected to learn about ethics and values in the clinical setting as well as in a research perspective in order to ensure that patients are receiving quality care. I learned that there are so many aspects to patient care. It is not just about dotting all the "i"s and crossing all the "t"s. I have worked with several different nurses. Some of them focus so much on all the 'house cleaning' efforts of nursing like making sure that the documentation meets the hospital requirements. I think that that is a wonderful perspective but it shouldn't be the only perspective. I have also worked with nurses who focus on patient care, which I love. That's where I learn the most. I can learn the checks and balances by making lists of the right items to document, but patient care has to be at the forefront of nursing.
I think that the assignments this week have just reinforced my desire to focus on the patient, their perspective, their concerns and worries, and their needs. I want to make sure that every thing I do is leading them to recovery, not to just get them discharged but to help them be able to function in the best possible way with the best outcome.
I will utilize the things I learned in this unit by apply them to daily care. Every day I work I make note of the things I think could have gone better. I remind myself that the next time I'm on the job, I will make sure to improve upon the last day worked. By doing this, I am focusing on quality care and the constant improvement of the quality of care I give to my patients.